Queen of the Prairie

Filipendula rubra

Count on queen of the prairie, also called meadowsweet, to pick up the garden bloom show when spring-blooming perennials fade. In midsummer, cloudlike clusters of pink or white blooms rise above the ferny, toothed leaves of this North America native. Although the fluffy flower stalks look delicate, queen of the prairie is a tall, sturdy perennial that will stand up to wind and a variety of tough soil conditions. Its flowers hold their color and shape for three weeks or more, moving the garden from mid- to late summer.

Queen of the prairie can reach a lofty height and spread. Depending on the variety, plants can grow up to 8 feet tall and spread more than 3 feet. Plant queen of the prairie near the back of the garden so its pretty green divided leaves are a backdrop for other flowering plants. It is also a good plant for creating a living screen or fence. Plant it near your property line where it will enclose your space with frothy flowers.

Queen of the Prairie Easy Care

For strong growth and robust flowering, plant queen of the prairie in moist, well-drained soil and full sun or part shade. Plant queen of the prairie from transplants purchased at your local garden center because queen of the prairie can be tough to germinate from seed.

Queen of the prairie rarely needs staking. Skip the deadheading; it doesn't promote reblooming. The plant grows best when undisturbed; there is rarely a need to dig up and divide it, but if you do divide queen of the prairie, expect the plant to grow slowly for a couple of years before it returns to its former grandeur. Japanese beetles and powdery mildew trouble queen of the prairie occasionally. Your plants will usually recover the following year, but make sure to cut foliage back in late summer if it becomes unsightly.

Try These Varieties

Queen of the prairie's 'Albicans' has showy white flowers on top of 5- to 6-foot-tall stems. 'Venusta' has striking deep pink to red flowers that will spice up your garden. Plant breeders are currently working on selecting more varieties of this North American native. Check your local garden center for petite varieties that reach a mature height of only 2 to 3 feet tall.

Plant Queen of the Prairie With:

There are hundreds of different types of salvias, commonly called sage, but they all tend to share beautiful, tall flower spikes and attractive, often gray-green leaves. Countless sages (including the herb used in cooking) are available to decorate ornamental gardens, and new selections appear annually. They are valued for their long season of bloom—right up until frost. Not hardy in cold climates, they are easy to grow as annuals. Dense or loose spires of tubular flowers in bright blues, violets, yellow, pinks, and red form on square stems clothed with often-aromatic leaves. Provide full sun or very light shade in well-drained average soil.

Colorful lobelias are a wonderful choice for landscaping around ponds and streams—anywhere the soil is consistently moist. In fact, lobelia loves downright wet conditions, making it a top choice for bog gardens. Perennial types of lobelia (not to be confused with the low-growing, often blue annual types) attract hummingbirds, so they're great for wildlife gardens. The foliage is a rich green to sometimes dark reddish-purple. The plant produces striking spikes of flowers in all shades of red, pink, blue, and white. Lobelia needs humus-rich soil. Mulch with a biodegradable material, such as wood bark or chopped leaves, to add humus to the soil.